I Canceled iCloud, Google Drive, and Arlo — Here’s What Replaced Them

Overview

Three paid cloud subscriptions — iCloud, Google Drive, and Arlo camera storage — were replaced with a self-hosted solution running on personal hardware. Photos, files, and security footage now live on a private server with full 3-2-1 backup redundancy, eliminating over $40/month in recurring fees while maintaining complete data ownership and privacy.

The Challenge

• Over $40/month in cloud storage subscriptions
• Data spread across multiple providers with no unified access
• Privacy concerns — personal photos and footage stored on third-party servers
• No control over data retention policies or AI training usage

What We Built

• Centralized file and photo storage on self-hosted infrastructure
• Security camera footage stored locally with remote access
• Full 3-2-1 backup strategy — local, offsite, and cloud cold storage
• Unified access across all devices with private sync

Technologies Used